AU592925B2

AU592925B2 - Open-ended multipack with carrying strap and method

Info

Publication number: AU592925B2
Application number: AU11467/88A
Authority: AU
Inventors: Philippe Le Bras; Jean Chaussadas
Original assignee: Mead Corp
Current assignee: Mead Corp
Priority date: 1987-02-10
Filing date: 1988-02-09
Publication date: 1990-01-25
Anticipated expiration: 2008-02-09
Also published as: EP0278723A2; ES2027002T3; GB8702976D0; MY101706A; DE3866124D1; CA1295291C; JPS63203568A; NZ223390A; KR960009046B1; US4796754A; AU1146788A; EP0278723A3; KR880009847A; EP0278723B1

Description

r 4 i 3 11 ____IY-~-~PIII;LII-I FORM COMMONW-'ALTH OF AU; PATENTS ACT 195 COMPLETE SPECIFICA 592925 S F Ref: 49919

STRALIA

2

TION

Class Int Class

(ORIGINAL)

FOR OFFICE USE: Complete Spcifica'lon Lodged: Accepted: Published: rY Priority: Related Art: Name and Address of Applicant: The Mead Corporation Courthouse Plaza, Northeast 'V Dayton Ohio 45463 UNITED STATES OF AMERICA Address for Service: Spruson Ferguson, Patent Attorneys SLevel 33 St Martins Tower, 31 Market Street Sydney, New South Wales, 2000, Australia C' o Complete Specification for the invention entitled: Open-Ended Multipack with Carrying Strap and Method The following statement is a full description of this invention, including the best method of performing it known to melus 5845/5 fa~

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ABSTRACT

A package (46) of the wrap-around type has a central row of articles (48) and an auxiliary row of articles (50, 52) one on either side o the central row. The articles of the auxiliary rows are disposed in abutting nested relationship with respect to those in the group. A securing strap is provided to hold together the articles of the central row and the strap is held in position closely to embrace the articles in the central row by the abutting articles in the auxiliary rows. An outer open-ended wrapper (54) is provided for maintaining the articles of the auxiliary rows in their abutting nested relationship with respect to the articles in the central row.

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Sts *5( SIr tilt lrist 1111 OPEN-ENDED MULTIPAK WITH CARRYING STRAP AND METHOD lo/- This invention relates to a multipack preferably of the wrap-around type in which thzee or more rows of uniform articles are packaged within an open-end wrapper.

It is well known in the multiple packaging art to wrap one or two rows of articles, such as bottles, cans or other generally cylindrical articles in an open-ended wrapper blank. In order to prevent endwise dislodgement of the articles from the wrapper' the tops and/or bottoms of the articles cooper;te with some form of retaining means provided by the wrapper itself e.g.

bottle neck receiving openings, bottle heel or can chine receiving openings and flange receiving slots.

Where a larger multipack is desired ii which the packaged articles are arranged in more than two rows it normally has been necessary to provide a closed ended carton in order to give adequate article retention.

However, some attempts have been made to provde alternative arrangements e.g. European Patent Number -2- 0 035 912 where a number of articles are shrink-wrapped in a group whereafter an outer paperboard wrapper is applied to the group. Both this solution and the closed ended carton does involve a greater material stock than an open-ended wrapper.

The present invention seeks to achieve the economy provided by an open-ended wrapper which comprises three or more rows of articles. To this end, one aspect of the invention provides a package comprising a central group of articles and an auxiliary group of articles one or either side of the central group and in which the articles of the auxiliary groups are disposed in abutting nested relationship with regard to those in 75 the central group, characterised in !,hat securing means 0# is prcvided to hold together articles of the central group, said first securing means being held in position closely to embrace the articles in the central group by the abutting articles in the auxiliary groups and in that second securing means is provided for maintaining the articles of the auxiliary groups in their abutting nestea relationship, with respect to the articles in said central group. Preferably, the second securing means comprises a wrapper formed from paperboard or a similar foldable sheet material. In a~rangenents where a paperbonrd is present, the paperboard wrapper is entirely open-ended, However, the second securing means may comp'ise a shrink fitted or stretch fitted plastics film sleeve or other film wrapping.

According to another feature of this aspect of the invention, the first securing means may comprise an endless strap encircling said central group of articles Where an endless strap is provided, it may be disposed intermediate the top and bottom ends of the articles.

Accorcing to yet another feature of this aspect of the invention, the central group may comprise a single row i I- 3 of articles and each of said auxiliary groups may comprise a single row of articles.

-io i .Ml mi. m f~;'lTOitS I I* I llt 1 k According to a still further feature of this aspect of the invention, the central group of articles comprise two parallel rows of articles in which the articles in one row are in abutting relationship with respect to those in the other row and each of said auxiliary groups may comprise a single row of articles disposed in abutting nested relationship with respect to the adjacent articles in respective ones of the two central rows.

Preferably, the articles are cylindrical and uniform.

Another aspect of the invention provides a method of forming a consolidated group of articles in which outer rows of articles are disposed in abutting nested relationship with respect to a central row of articles, s,.d method including the steps of form.4 g a first group of articles and applying to that group first securing means by which the articles of that group are to be held together, introducing auxiliary groups of articles, one on either side of the central group to form a single consolidated group of articles in which the first group is centrally located and in which the auxiliary groups are disposed in abutting nested relationship with respect to said central group, characterised in that introduction of said auxiliary groups holds said first securing means in position closely to embrace the articles in said central group and in that second securing means is applied to said consolidated group to maintain the articles of the auxiliary groups in their abutting nested relationship with respect to the articles in said central group.

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-4 According to a feature of this aspect or the inveintion, the first group may be conveyed alrog a central feed path and eoch of said auxiliary groups may be fed along an auxiliary feed path disposred alongside said central feed path and convergent with respect thereto in the direction of feed.

Embodiments of the invention will now be described, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:- FIGURE 1 is a schematic plan view of a packaging operation to form a seven-article multipack according to the invention; FIGURE 2 is a perspective view of one triple row wrap- 0:111:around type package according to the invention; and FIGURE .3 is a perspective view of another wrap-around type package according to the invention having two central rows of cans.

Referring to the drawings In the packaging operation shown In Figure 1, a central feed line 70 of articles to be packaged (in this case beverage cans) includes an initial grouping operation at which a desired number of cans are grouped from a continuous in feed line by means of a starwheel metering device 12. In some packaging operations according to the invention, the central feed line 70 has two or more parallel rows of ar-ticles to be packaged. In this particular embodiment of the invention, the feed line 10 comprises a single row of cans and the starwheel 12 is adapted to create groups of three cans per group which are advanced along the feed path, Whatever the number of rows in the central feed 5 line the packaging operation includes an infeed step in which the initially grouped articles have an endless strap applied to them. The strap is looped around the leading and trailing articles of the group. To this end, a loop forming device 14 is provided at the infeed end of the machine above the central feed line 10. The device 74 forms lengths of a plastics material into loops and heatseals the overlapping ends of each loop by ultrasonic means in order to form an endless strap e.g. strap Each strap is despatched along a guide path 16 which converges towards the central feed path by air jets which propell the loops along the guide o path. The end of the guide path which is in close pro- S. ximity to the central feed path 10 is narrowed at section 16N so that each loop is made more ovate and elongate a, it is caused to pass through the narrowed guide path section. At this portion of the machine, the ai article groups are conveyed by chain lugs 18 of a side chain and sprocket set 20. Each of the lugs 18 is timed to engage the trailing i.e. upstream article of its asscociated group of articles and push that group forwardly along the central feed path 10. During their downward convergent movement with respect to the central feed path each loop is caught by bottom chain lugs 22 which both support the loop and carry it downstream in synchrroism with an article group so that the loop is progressively encircled about the article group. The loop is supported temporarily by the chain lugs 21 at approximiately mid-height of the articles.

It is not intended at this stage of the packaging operation that the loop should be a tight fit around its associated article group but on the contrary is formed with sufficient girth as to be loose and easily encitled about the group.

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-6 Flanking the central feed line 10 at the in feed section of the machine is a pair of similar auxiliary article feed lines 24 and 26 respectively. Feed line 24 includes a starwhe?l metering device 28 and an outer lug chain assembly 30 which is disposed so as to feed the grouped articles along feed lines 24 convergently with respect to the downstream direction of the central feed line. Auxiliary article feed line 26 is a like arrangement and includes starwheel metering device 32 and outer lug chain assembly 34. In each of the auxiliary feed lines the respective starwheels create groups of a preselected number of articles in this embodiment the starwheels are adapted to create auxiliary groups of two cans per group which are advanced convergently towards the central feed line 10 by the respective outer chain lug assembly. In order to ochieve the necessary space in which the auxiliary feed lines are disposed, the side lug chain assembly 18 is substituted by a central bottom lug chain assembly 36 in the central feed path 10 which is responsible for the continued feed of the cans in the central feed line.

The convergent auxiliary feed is timed ultimately to bring the cans in the auxiliary feed lines 24 and 26 into side by side nested relationship with the cans in the central feed line. In this nested arrangement, the cans in each auxiliary row are disposed out of registry with respect to two adjacent cans in the central row.

Thus, in this specific embodiment, a pair of cans5 from each auxiliary feed line is brought into abutting nested relationship on either side of the three cans present in the central feed line, thereby to form a single consolidated group of cans disposed in nested relationship, At or adjacent the downstream end of the outer lug chain as.5emblies 30, 34 at which the cans in 1 -7the auxiliary feed lines are about to be brought into j parallel movement with respect to, the cans in the central feed line, feed of the cans in the auxiliary feed lines is transferred to a respective pair of outer bottom lug chain assemblies 38 and 40, respectively.

Thus, the consolidated group Cl is advanced into a wrapping section of the machine by the central and outer bottom lug chain assemblies 36, 38 and A~s previously mentioned, it is envisaged that the cenral feed line may comprise mor~e than one row of articles. The articles of these central rows need not I necessarily be disposed in nested relationship alehough the articles of' the auxiliary rows are nested with them, During nesting of' the cans from the auxiliary feed paths with those of the central Fred path an important aspect of the invention is realised, Movement of the cans in the auxiliary feed lines into abutting nested relationship with the central cans cause, the strap IS' to be deformed inwardly so that it mu;e closely follows U the con tours of the walls of the cans in the central row and in consequence is5 made to be a tighter fit holding thc central row of cans together as a unit as at position ui. Hence, the girth of the strap IS, is chosen so that it is relatively loose when initially set about the group of cans in the central feed pathi but which becomes tightened about the central feed path cans upon Introduction of the auxiliary cans into nesterd relationship therewith.

At position G1 a wrapper, blank 81 is applied to the, tozps of the cans consolida ted group and the wrapper and cin group are advanced torpether downstream of the -8machine. The remaining packaging process is ron yentional and involves wrapping and securing the wrapper blank about the consolidated group. In order to secure the wrapper about the group, it includes bottom panels which are brought into overlapping relationship and then connected together by any convenient means e.g.

interlocked or glued. In order to accomplish this process the feeding of the group is transferred from the central and outer bottom lug chain assemblies .36, .38 and 40 to a pair of parallel side lug chain assemblies 42, 44, respectively. Between the ends of the outer lug chain assemblies 30, .34 and the side lug chain assemblies 42, 44, the cans in the auxiliary feed paths are held from being dislodged from their nested relationship by suitable side guides (not shown) such as fixed side rails or endless moving side belts.

tAt the completion of the wrapping process, the wrapper blank is secured about the group so that the cans of the auxiliary rows are held nested against those of the central row to form a single unit package. In Some arrangements, e.g. where the central feed path produces twin central rows of cans, the strap at each end of the completed package provides a handle portion to facilitate portage of the package.

Figures 2 and .3 each show packages according to the invef, on and like parts are designated like reference numerals with the addition of Suffix The package 46 iit Figure 2 comprises a central row 48 of four cans and outer auxiliary row $0 and 52 each of three cans, The central row 48 of cans is embraced and held together as a unit by the encircling strap The strap is held in its position intermediate the topsand bases of the cans by the cans in the outer auxiliary -9 rows 50, 52 which are in abutting nested relationship with respect to the cans in the central row thus forming a consolidated group. The group is maintained in that configuration by paperboard wrapper 54 which is entirely open-ended and comprises top panel 56, side wall panels 58 and 60 hinged to opposite side edges of the top wall panel and overlapping base panels 62 and 64 hinged to respective ones of the side wall panels and secured together beneath the bases of the cans.

The package 46a in Figure 2 is of like arrangement except that its central group of articles comprises two rows 48a and 48aI each having four cans per row and in which the cans in one row are in abutting regi.

stration with the cans of the other row. End portions 'Sal of the strap ercirclin9 both central rows provide a carry handle for the package, o 4a 1 00#5

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'~1 Whereas the above description refers to an outer wrapper of paperboard, it is envisaged that the second (outer) securing means for the article group may coMprise a shrink fitted or stretch fitted plastics film sleeve or other plastics film covering,

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Claims

1. A package for a plurality of articles of cylindrical or oval cross section comprising a central group of articles and auxiliary groups of articles one on either side of the central group and in which the articles of the auxiliary groups are disposed in abutting nested relationship with respect to those of the central group, said central and auxiliary groups being held together by fi~rst and second securing means, characterised in that said first securing means encircles the articles of the central group and being held in position closely to embrace the articles of said central group by the abutti-" 1-ed articles of the auxiliary groups, and in that sait. d securing means maintains the articles of said auxiliary groups in their abutting nested relationship with respect to the articles in said central group.

2. The package according to claimi b further characterised in that the articles disposed at the~ ends of t'he central group project beyond the end articles of the adjatent nuxitiary groups.

3. The package according to claim 1, further characterised in that said second :securing means extends in a direction normal to said first securing means.

4. The package according to claim 1, characterised in that said second securing means comprises a wrapper formed from paperboard or similar foldable sheet material. The package according to claim 1, characterised in that said oentral group comprises an even number of articles and each of said auxiliary groups comprises an uneven number of articles. 6, The package according to claim 4, further characterised, $In that the paperboard wrapper is open-ended.

7. The package according to claim 1, further characterised in that said first securing means comprises an endless strap.

8. The package according to claim 7, further characterised in that said endless strap is disposed intermediate the top and bottom ends of the articles. 91 The package according to claim I, furC ir characterised. in that said cerntral group comprises, a single row of e&rticles and each of said aun4"liary groups comprises a single row of articles. /s

12- 'i*he package according to claim 1, further characterised in that said central group of articles comprises two parallel rows of articles in which the articles in one row are i' aligned abutting registration with respect to those in the other row and each of said auxiliary groups comprises a single row of articles disposed in abutting nested relationship with respect to adjacent articles in respective ones of the two cenzral rows. 11. The package according to claim further characterised in that said second sec'uring means comprises a plastics film material. 12. A method of forming a package of cylindrical or oval articles comprising a central group of articles and outer groups of articles disposed on both sides of said central group and being held together by first and second securing means, said method comprising the steps of forming a first group of articles and applying thereto a first securing means in the form of a loosely fitting endless band or strap encircling said first group and disposed 4long the sides of said articles, positioning auxiliary groups of articles one Zon either side of the central group in abutting nested relationship with respect to the articles in said central group whereby said first securing means is tightened so as to closely embrace the articles in said central group, applying a second securing means to said consolidated groups to maintain the articles of th e auxiliary groups in their olooo F "r :n I- M- 13 abutting nested relationship with respect to the articles in said central group.

13. The method according to claim 12, further characterised in that said first group is conveyed along a central feed path and each of said auxiliary groups are fed along an auxiliary feed path disposed alongside said central feed path and convergent with respect thereto in the direction of feed.

14. The method according to claim 13, further characterised in that said second securing means comprises a wrapper which is applied to the consolidated groups of articles in a direction transverse to the direction of feed. DATED this 'ICTTH day of FEBRUARY, 198 The Mead Corporation Paten't Attorneys for the Applicant SPRUSON FERCUSON -V-